Tuesday, March 30, 2010

My last round on teddy bears, promised!« These woodlands of cactus are an extraordinary sight. The twisted trunks look like the bodies of dragons, the limbs of monsters whose scales are blown about and bristling with sharp points. On coming across them at night, by moonlight, one feels as if in a land of nightmares. »Guy de Maupassant -La vie errante- 1890

Opuntia bigelovii of the Cactus Family or is it a Opuntia fosbergii ? I can’t really make a difference between both when I out there... Adults the bigelovii are smaller than the gosbergii and the spines have a slightly different color.

These cactaceae which grow slowly up to 6’ everywhere are called « jumpy » because their arms break easily at the slightest touch. Don’t ever try because the thorns are sharp and painful to remove. Whenever I go hiking I make sure to bring tweezers...

The “Walking stick” (Intermezzo) reminded a few of you of Louise Bourgeois and her “Maman” spiders… I agree of course.I read recently that we were swallowing, without our knowledge, at least two spiders a year, however, I am reassuring you, not as big.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The artist, Janet Echelman, named this floating art piece “Her secret is Patience” after a quote by the American poet philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote "Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience."Janet Echelman was inspired by the cereus cactus, the saguaro blossom.The work during construction was unofficially referred to by the nickname "Sky Bloom."

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Because of the rain the Pakistani Kite Festival did not take place. Still the few who defied the weather and showed up have been able to admire the dexterity of a couple of people flying their kites.Le festival de cerfs-volants pakistanais n’a pas pu avoir lieu à cause de la pluie. Pourtant ceux qui se sont déplacés ont pu admirer la dexterité avec laquelle quelques personnes maniaient leur cerf-volant.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Yesterday a few showers, then towards the evening a ray of sunshine, just long enough to hop on my bicycle and bring back home a piece of rainbow in the camera.This morning on my way home close shot on electric wires. For once they will take the credit for themselves.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Claude was asking about the weather…Nothing much to worry about. The Lake Roosevelt which provides water for the Phoenix area is full ahead of time even before the snow melt. SRP (Salt River Project) which is controlling the flow is moving the water downstream. So we should expect some dry rivers in Mesa and Tempe to be filled with water in a few days.Here in Chandler we have had a few days of rain in a row which is really rare for the season. I love it.